Review of Babysitter Wanted (2007) by Kristal C — 06 Jul 2010

If you loved (or hated) House of the Devil, then you should watch the creepy, little gem Babysitter Wanted. Though both films came out at different times in different regions, its clear nobody was trying to copy the other in their efforts to deliver a scary story of 80's throwback Satanism mixed with babysitter-in-peril action.

Despite their clear similarities, there are some big leaps in differences that make these two films special in their own individual rights. A goody, Christian girl (Sarah Thompson) has just moved into her dorm at her small-town college, and answers an ad for a babysitting job for a quaint family consisting of parents Bruce Thomas & Kristen Dalton and their odd son Kai Caster.

Things get creepy quickly for Thompson who's being followed by a stranger. It's not long before the stranger begins terrorizing her and Caster, but in a nice little change of pace, the stranger becomes the VERY least of Thompson's problems throughout the night.

I don't want to give away what follows other than some particularly gory moments, mixed with a little bit of the supernatural as well, not to mention an appearance from the great Bill Moseley (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects) playing a good guy for once.

Almost immediately, the horror pace picks up in Babysitter Wanted and doesn't let up, unlike the slow-burning House of the Devil, which takes its time building up dread and tension until culminating in a wild last 15 minutes or so.

BW keeps the fanatical pace going nonstop, which can be a good thing, but also effectively covers up a lack of story. One problem I did have with Babysitter Wanted is the overkill of musical score, which is very overdone (as far as trying to heighten terror and scares), throughout the movie.

The movie would have been 100 times more terrifying if the music was non-existent. Other than that, this is a cool little flick, and a hell of a hidden gem from Canada. I hope it gets found by true fans of horror in America.